Airlines burned by their low-cost fares

Michael O'Leary and others in the airline industry need to stop bleating, obey the law and, if they refuse, be subject to swift legal action and, where appropriate, punitive sanctions (Report, 22 April). As we now know, there appears to be little or no research evidence on the likely effects of volcanic ash upon the ability of passenger planes to fly safely. Airlines and plane manufacturers of course knew this. Yet they chose not to rectify that ignorance, failing to invest time and money into research on this issue, implicitly gambling that it was a risk that would not be realised. They have been proven wrong, and now need to pay the costs of that miscalculation. As you are so fond of telling us through every possible media outlet, Michael, that's capitalism – you win some, you lose some. Pay up and shut up.

Professor Steve Tombs

Liverpool John Moores University

• It is ironic that Ryanair, which owes its rapid growth to EU competition law, should now object to consumer protection law from the same source. However, the law is clear. Ryanair is responsible for reasonable hotel and refreshment costs of passengers affected by the volcanic ash. While it is clearly banking on people feeling it is not worth the effort to lodge claims, the new European small claims procedure is straightforward for claims under €2,000, with the relevant information on the web page of the European Judicial Atlas in Civil Matters and the UK courts services. The process is slightly complicated by Ryanair's unwillingness to provide its registered address: Ryanair Customer Standards, Corporate Head Office, Dublin Airport, Co Dublin, Ireland.

Professor Martin McKee

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

• Our ludicrously cheap flights culture has led to the operating margins of all airlines being eroded. This has led to a situation where they cannot afford to fulfil their financial obligations to passengers and also to their being unable to survive a few days' disruption without recourse to demanding government (taxpayer) bailouts. Perhaps I could apply for a government bailout for my expenses and loss of earnings while I was unable to get home.

Chris Wade-Evans

London

• Before the airlines get too far down the track of blaming governments and air safety authorities for being excessively cautious about the threat of volcanic ash, perhaps they should bear in mind three simple words: "Remember the Titanic." A cavalier or brazenly profit-driven approach to passenger safety can have the most tragic and awful consequences. Equally, those now complaining about inconvenience and the cost of getting home might like to consider this – is it better to be safe or dead?

Dr Alan Metters

Norwich

• We are trapped in Delhi with our children Iona (14 – missing GCSE exams), Sophia (13 – missing her part in the school play) and Dylan (seven – missing home). BA have offered us a flight home on 10 May (we have been stranded since 16 April), but are still selling tickets on Delhi-London flights for thousands of pounds (which we cannot afford). The rich are allowed straight on to flights while the poor remain stranded. This is the real scandal of the volcano crisis. We are among the lucky ones who BA have put up in a hotel but, with spirits low and tempers high, trouble is brewing – some people even had a "sit-down protest" in the hotel lobby on Wednesday. The Ramada in New Delhi is a very nice hotel, but our money has run out and we can't even afford the bottled water.

Rev Trevor Donnelly

Rev Juliet Donnelly

London

• I am among a group of 30-plus holidaymakers in one hotel in Jamaica who were due to leave the island on 17 April with Virgin Atlantic. On Wednesday we were informed that we will not be flown home until 8 May, because people originally booked on earlier flights will keep their seats, while we will be left until fresh vacant seats become available. Many of us will have been here five weeks by this time – using up people's annual leave, possibly threatening their jobs, and leaving children out of school and university students unable to hand in coursework and revise for exams. We feel we have been overlooked by the airline and the government, while those in Europe have been given all the help available.

Charlotte Munson

Basingstoke, Hampshire

• There are always risks attached to travelling abroad. Some of these risks can be insured against, but others such as industrial action, war and natural disasters cannot. Most holidays are unaffected by these, but people must accept that by choosing to take holidays abroad they are accepting the risks and the responsibility for the consequences. Expecting the government to rescue them, and whingeing when they cannot, is unacceptable.

Hazel Ruxton

Houston, Renfrewshire

• We are now told the models used to assess the risks of flying through a volcanic plume were wrong. So, when it comes to insurance claims, was the recent ban on flying the result of an act of God or of miscalculation? I imagine it will be decided in court – could be interesting.

Joe Collier

Richmond, Surrey

• At £100m per day, the airspace shutdown would have had to continue for 27 years before it inflicted as much damage on the UK economy as the greed and stupidity of the bankers has done.

Professor Ian Stewart

University of Warwick

• Julian Goodkin assumes the 200,000 people who need to be brought back to the UK by the 6 May are Tories (Letters, 20 April). Surely if they return by ship they'll be floating voters.